December 28, 2010

It's time to announce this week's (er, I mean LAST week's) Sweet Sunday Winner! I think I've finished digging out from under the mountainous piles of wrapping paper, ribbon, dishes (you know, the fine china you can't put in the dishwasher), and yummy treats. The only thing missing this year was snow - it's so bizarre having absolutely no snow here in the Front Range of Colorado this time of year. The mountains are getting all the snow, and we're missing out. Oh, and the East Coast is getting a ton too, so if you read that and are mad, just know that I'm one of those weird people who love those big blizzards, haha! My oldest was outside in shorts and a light jacket this afternoon - WHAT?

Ok, rambling again - This week's winner is..... #11 - Wendy!

Wendy made this adorable money holder with the sketch and I love the candy cane paper and happy Santa! Congrats Wendy! You can see more of Wendy's work on her blog, WeeBeeStampin4Fun, so please swing on by and give her some love.

See you back this Sunday when we'll pick back up with the next challenge!

December 27, 2010

That's right! It's my pal Jodi Collins' birthday today and we celebrating her by showering her with some blog love! The party started over at Karen Motz's blog and she has a complete list of hoppers there and if you came to my blog through Jessica Diedrich, you're right on schedule.

I was so lucky to have met Miss Bon Jodi in real life when we helped out in the Taylored Expressions booth at CHA in January and let me tell you, this girl will make you laugh! Thanks for the ab workout, sister!! Never a dull moment, HUH??!!???

December 25, 2010

I was a complete and total slacker this year and didn't make my own Christmas cards and I opted to go the photo card route. I'm really excited to send some of my absolute favorite photos I took of the kids this fall and love how it turned out. Andrew went with me to scope out a setting for a family shoot I did a little while ago and he was my handsome little helper and let me take some practice shots of him. That little "peace" photo was one of my favorites of him that day.

This is what happened toward the end...

He treats me like I'm Paparazzi - it's a love/hate relationship with my lens... But he saves his 1000 hugs and kisses for me each day. He's such a little love.

Katie, she's my princess. Everything dressy and twirly and just pure "love". The photo of her was taken for my photography class and it quickly became my all-time favorite of her. I think it's the light shining through her amazing, chocolate eyes.

How can I deny her anything? Oh right, it's that money thing. She's such a sweetie.

I've posted this photo of Avery before, but it's rare she gets in front of the camera and doesn't stick out her tongue or squeeze her eyes shut tight. That girl...

December 22, 2010

Howdy!! Are you surprised to see me here? haha! I had some time to make another card and since it's all about Christmas this week, I thought I'd ink up my penguins again. I can't help it. It's the fuzzy hats. I think I'm addicted to them. I wonder if there is a support group for that?

December 19, 2010

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC97 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

The size of my card is 6-1/2" x 3-1/4" and I opted to use some Holiday Lounge paper from Stampin' Up! I didn't add any cardstock layers, which kept this one fairly simple. The scallop border is MFT's Jumbo Scallop Die and I had to cut it out twice and hid the seam under the ornament {shhhh, don't tell!}. The ornaments are a Silhouette cut file that my sweet friend, Nancy McKinney made and shared with me - aren't they darling?

We're taking a break next week for Christmas, so we'll see you back for another new sketch on January 2nd.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

I think Santa needs to put some adhesive in my stocking this year - although, I'd have to tell Santa where to buy it and bring his 40% off coupon and the like, so maybe I'll just treat myself instead. LOL!

December 12, 2010

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC96 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm inking up my favorite penguins again - aren't they cute?? These little guys are from Penguin Pals and whenever I use them, I have to use some Sparkly Fluff on their hats - Baby Boy Blue is what I used here. I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copics, but the Mistletoe is colored in with a white gel pen. I used the Large Scallop Border Die along the bottom in patterned paper - I love the mix of big and small scallops on a card - so pretty!

I have a sad announcement too - Our very sweet and fabulous Joanne is posting her last SSSC card as a team member today. She has been so wonderful and thoughtful and sweet and we will all miss her. Thank you for all you have brought to this little team, Joanne! We lurve you!

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

December 11, 2010

Hello and Happy Saturday! It's time to announce this week's sketch winner - and Random.org has chosen.....

#11 - Dawn Easton!

I love the soft colors Dawn used for her card as well as all of her little details - the pearls, the butterflies and border punch - it's gorgeous! Congrats Dawn! Please stop by Dawn's blog, Treasure Oiler Designz and say hello, she's got lots and lots of gorgeous eye candy there for you!

See you back soon for the next challenge, or check out the early sneak peek on Facebook right now :)

December 5, 2010

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC95 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm breaking out the Verve today - yumm! Miracles Blossom is one of my all time favorite Verve sets and I can't resist the tulips - my favorite flower. The papers are again from Marjolaine by Basic Grey.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

Jennifer Tapler - she's on a little stay-cation with her family, but she'd love for you to visit!

December 3, 2010

Hey, hey! It's Friday and that means it's the Taylored Expressions release party! All our new items are now for sale and you aren't going to want to miss anything - lot's of fun items for you and your crafty friends.

You can catch all that is new in the Taylored Expressions store today along with all the Crafty Petites, which are available in a bundle package for more than 10% off the original price! There is more inspiration from the Baker's Dozen - hop on over to see:

December 2, 2010

Hello and welcome back to more Taylored Expressions sneak peeks! Today the Baker's Dozen is introducing 4 new Crafty Petites, which are exactly like the deeply etched rubber cling mount stamps you love, but in a more petite size - so cute! Each petite set comes on its own 3.5" x 5" full color panel and have about 7-8 individual stamps and are a bargain value at only $7.95 each! I love the witty sentiments that coordinate with each image and it's so easy to make cute little card sets. Each of these cards are 4.25" square...

I made this card set using Taylor's TESC134 and papers from The Thrift Shop by October Afternoon. This particular Crafty Petite is called Crafter's Anonymous and the sentiment inside says "There's a show for hoarders!", which I think is hysterical since I always hoard my crafty stuff, LOL! I added some Yellow Pearls along with some ivory grosgrain ribbon.

Here's another take on Taylor's sketch using Knit Wit and I used TE's new Large, Medium, and Small Scallop Border Dies to create lots and lots of luscious layers. The sentiment inside says "Sorry to be such a Knit Wit", hee!

This stamp is from Kitschy Kitchen and is so, SO fun! The oven is matched with a sentiment inside which says, "You warm my heart." - love it!

And my last card uses Sew Happy - I also used the new Scallops & Circles Impression Plate on the background paper and then rubbed a sanding block over it to create the worn edges. Love that look!

These new little Crafty Petites are brilliant for stocking stuffers or small little goodies for your friends this Holiday season, or you can hoard them for yourself too, lol! Taylor has a video showing you more about these cute little Crafty Petites, so hop on over and see.

Stop by the TE store tomorrow morning when all of the new release will be available for purchase, yay!!

There is much, much more for you to see from the rest of the Baker's Dozen! Stop by and see:

December 1, 2010

Hello! I feel like it has been ages since I've last posted and I'm so thrilled to be able to show you a peek at a new Taylored Expressions set called Friendship Blooms!! This beautiful set of 22 stamps is deeply etched on cling mount rubber and is full of gorgeous images and sentiments. The set also has 2 coordinating Taylored Die sets - Friendship Blooms & Leafy Branch - which make cutting out those flowers a cinch!

I used a fun little 6x6 paper pack from Basic Grey called Marjolaine and offset the blues and greens with a pop of Warm Red for the flowers, which were cut out using one of the Friendship Blooms Die flowers. I added a few Ice Blue rhinestones and some olive stitched ribbon along the top. The Leafy Branch die was used to cut out the branch image, which I stamped in Olive Pastel. The layout is Mercy's MTSC102.

The Baker's Dozen have much more to show you this morning - hop on over and see...